More effort is needed to prevent new cases of AIDS infection – this was one of the key themes that stirred the interest of researchers, advocates and people interested in this issue who participated at the biennial International AIDS Conference.

AIDS prevention techniques, such as condoms, circumcision and new drugs are improving, but more effort is needed to reduce the risk of HIV infection.

US studies found that circumcision may reduce a man’s risk of infection with the AIDS virus by up to 60 percent if he is an African, but the surgery does not appear to help American men of colour. The World Health Organization recommends circumcision as one of the ways to prevent HIV infection. Although the method does not protect men 100%, studies in Africa suggest the method is 50 to 60 percent protective. Doctors say that circumcision protects men from AIDS because of specialized cells in the foreskin of the penis that are removed in the procedure. The foreskin is filled with immune cells called Langerhans cells, which are the immune system’s sentinels and attach easily to viruses, including HIV.

Condoms also provide effective prevention and their use is increasing but some people don’t want to use them, said Mitchell Warren, executive director of the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, a New York-based prevention group, according to Bloomberg. According to US studies involving gay (which are more exposed to the virus) and bisexual men infected with HIV, more than one third admitted that they have recently had unprotected intercourse. More cases HIV infection still occur among “men who have sex with men” (MSM). The term describes gay and bisexual men who engage in male-male sexual activity.